New measures have come into force today banning the use of exclusivity clauses in zero hour employment contracts.

The ban on these contracts, which prevent employees from working for another employer even though they themselves do not guarantee any hours of work, became law through the government’s Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Zero hours contracts are not widely used in the convenience store sector, but they can provide important flexibility for store owners and employees. We have actively supported plans to remove exclusivity clauses from zero hour contracts and will work with retailers on the best employment options for their staff.”

Legal advice guides for employment issues can be viewed by ACS members here: http://www.acs.org.uk/advice/legal-advice/